Rotary printing-press.



L. A. WHEAT. ROTARY PRINTING PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED APR13.1909.

990,178. Patented Apr. 18, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEBT1 Snuenfoz Wit" eodeo W fie 361,

L. A. WHEAT.

Patented Apr. 18, 1911.

3 SHEETS'SHEET 2,

L. A. WHEAT.

ROTARY PRINTING PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.3,1909,

990,178. Patented Apr. 18, 1911.

8 SHEETS-BHEET 3.

Smnm fez UNITED srrA'rEs PATENT OFFICE.

LYMAN A. WHEAT, 0F BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN.

ROTARY PRINTING-PRESS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 3, 1909.

Patented Apr. 18; 1911.

Serial No. 487,678.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LYMAN A. WHEAT, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Battle Creek, county of Calhoun, State of Michi an, have invented certain new and usefu Improvements in Rotary .Printing-Presses, of which the following is .to rovide an improved construction of cylin rical plate printing ress or rotary printing presses in which t e frame-Work and driving mechanism are greatly simplified. Third, to provide an improved construction of rotary printing presses in which the tubular plates can be readily inserted and removed. Fourth,. to provide an im roved construction of plate cylinder means or rotary presses.

Further objects, and objects relatin to structural details, will definitely appear rom the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objectsof my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification.

The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure embod ing the features of my invention is clearly i lustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan View of a quadruple press embodying the features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation view through my improved quadruple press, taken on a line corresponding to line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Pi 3 is a detail and elevation view of one of the perfecting mechanisms taken from the left end of mechanism 0. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on a line corresponding to line 44 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail view, partially in section and with the shaft shown in sections, taken on a line corresponding to line 5-43 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view on line 6-45 ofFig. 5, showing the means of securing and adjustin the su porting ring between the plates an ofloc mg the plates against rotation on the mandrel. Fig. 7 is a detail sectional elevation transversely through the rollers of the perfecting mechanisms at one side, showing the arrangement of thesame, the various roll-. ers and parts being indicated in diagrammatic or conventional form.

In the drawin similar reference characters refer to SlIl'llfiI parts throughout the several views, and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.

Referring to the reference characters, each erfecting mechanism is indicated generally y the reference letters A, B, C, D, such perfecting mechanisms being substantially duplicates and supported in pairs as A--D,

13-0 on the central frame-work 3-4 an 1-2 respectively. Each central frame, of which there are four, is substantially identical, and consists of an arch 5 across which there is a supporting bar or beam 5'. Within the arch 18 supported the impression cylinder shaft 6 between the frames. In suitable bearing boxes on the outside of the arch is su ported the impression cylinder shaft 7 which is provided with a gear 7 meshin with the gear 6 of the shaft 6. Towar the front and the rear of each arch are supported the printing cylinder shafts 8 and 9, which are driven by the central gears 8' and 9' located between the central frames. .The gear 8' meshes with the gear 6', and the gear 9 meshes with the gear 7 in each instance. Shafts 10 for the ink drums are arranged below and at each side and are driven by suitable gears 10. Power is delivered by means of the shaft 11 and its gear 11', and the perfecting mechanisms are coupled together by the intermediate gears 1818 supported on the connectin bar or yoke 19 which couples together t e frames 12 to the frames 34. Such gears 18 serve as the intermediate gears between the inner ink drum gears and the printing cylinders at each side.

Beneath each printing cylinder are suit able inking mechanisms 14, 15 and 16.

The web of paper 17 is threaded through the press, as indicated in Flg. 7 being delivered underneath the machine" from a roll supported in any suitable manner, upwardly between theprinting'cylinder 8", which is alon the impression cylinder 6 supported on the shaft 8, and the impression cylinder 6 supportedon the shaft 6, thence and up:

I 7 war ly between the impression cylinder 7 of course, .be occupying additional floor i erably at oneend of the machine,

To produce'larger machines, perfecting ,to be engaged by are suitably geared'together, and thence to the angle bars 13, whlch ermit the paper to be turned at right ang es and delivered to folding mechanisms E, F,which are pref although they may be located in any convenient posimechanlsms with their frame-work as here shown could be'super osed, or they could be :added to indefinite y on the same; floor level, except in such instances, they would,

s ace. 7 v

PTheplates 20 are tubular in form and slip onto the printing cylinders, being bored out to fitthe same substantially, and are slotted suitable lugs or pins 24 on on the printing cylinders,

the locking rin Y which retain said platesv in place against rotation. p The inner ring 23 is stationary, t e metal ring 21 is removable and is secured ad ustably in place on the printin cylinder 8 by a suitable set screw 22, an the outer ring 25 is moved into place in the'outer end of the outer-tubular plate and is secured in position exactly the same as the central ring 21 is secured. Because the shafts carrying these cylinders are supported between a air of frames 1-2 or 3-4, as the case may e, andare driven from a gear between the same, and because they are made of a maximum size, they are, in many instances,-sufiiciently rigid to do ordinary printing'without any supports at their outer ends, but I find, in practice, that it is desirable to rovide some support for the outer ends of t ese various shafts when of considerable length; Those of the impression, cylinders are inserted in suitable bearing boxes as also are the outer ends of the shafts 10 of the ink drums. These bearings are in a frame casting 27 which is secured to a base 26 at the outer end with the exception of the bearing for the upper impression cylinder shaft 7, which. is on the up er side of a block 28, the under part of w ich serves as 'a boxing for the outer end of the shaft 6.

To permit free access to the outer ends of the printing cylinders I provide a swingin arm 29 in each instance, which is supported on a pin or shaft 30, so that it will swing down as on a hinge. A laterally-projectmg arm 31 is provi ed with a clamping bolt 32, by which the same is securedto a suitlinder 9, thence out able projecting lug or bracket 33 on the side I of the frame 27; In the upper end of this arm 29, I provide a conical screw-threaded pin 34 which is lockedin place by a lock nut ,35. This is arranged to support the.

outer end of the printing cylinder'shaft by n I engaging the projecting end 36 thereof, which has a conical depression 37 to receive v the end of the conical 'pin.34. This pro- 0 vides adequate support for the outer end of the pIln'tHW cylinder, and is a structure which can e very readily; dropped down out of the waywhen insertingvor removing,

the tubular stereotype or electrotype plates. However, as before remarked, unless the oylinders are quite long, it will'not be found,

, necessary to support-the outer ends of the" shafts ofthe printing cylinders in this way, and I desire toclaim the same thus supported and also to claim the same broadly whether thus supported or not. I also desire to remark that the plates could be secured to the print- 7 ing cylinders by the usual methods employed, orby the methods that I have illustrated in my concurrent applications for patents, but l the methods preferred by me in this style of 1 machine is that here illustrated. This/secures a shaft for supporting the type plates of maximum size and is a very convenient method of inserting or removing-the same. Many other variations will occur to the person skilled in this art vwhich maybe utilized without departing from my invention. I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let- 106 ters Patent is:

1. In a rotary printing press, the combination of pairs of perfecting mechanisms, each including printing and impression cylinders; central gears between the m'echa- 'IllSl'l'lS of' said pairs; shafts for the impression cylinders and printing cylinders extending the. length of said pair of perfecting mechanisms; supporting frames for the. shafts each side of the said central gears and 110 in proximity thereto; supporting bearings for the outer ends of said shafts, those for the .printing cylinders being pivoted to swing away from the ends of these-id printing cylinders; intermediate yokes between the frames of the pairs carrying intermediate gears for coupling the said perfecting mechanisms together; and driving means engaging the gear of one of the said perfecting mechanisms, all coact ing substangialy as described and for the purpose speci- 2. In a rotary printing press, the combination of a air of perfecting mechanisms, including printing "and impression cylinders; 12 shafts for the impressiOn and printing cylinders extending the length of said pair of perfecting mechanisms; central gears between the mechanisms of said pair; sup orting boxes for the said shafts each s1 e of said central gears and in proximity thereto; supporting bearin s for the outer ends of said shafts, those or theprinting cylinders being pivoted to swin away from the ends of said printing cylin ers to permit the insertion or removal of tubular plates; tubular plates, adapted to fit on the said print-- ing cylinders; suitable means for securing the said plates on the said cylinders, coactmg for the purpose specified.

3. In a rotary printing press, the combination of a pair of perfecting mechanisms, including printing and impression cylinders; shafts for the impression and printing cylinders extending the length of said pair of perfecting mechanisms; central driving gears between the mechanism of said pair; supports and boxes for the said shafts each side of said central gears and in proximity thereto; tubular plates adapted to fit on the said printing cylinders and removable over the ends of the same and suitable means for securing the said plates on the said cylinders, coacting for the purpose specified.

4. In arotary printing press, the combination of a pair of perfecting mechanisms, in cluding printing and imp ession cylinders; shafts for the impression and printing cylinders extending the length of said pair of perfecting mechanisms; central driv'ng gears for said shafts; and supports and oxes for the said shafts each side of said central gears and in proximity thereto whereby tubular plates can be put over the ends of said cylinders, coacting for the purpose specified.

5. In a rotary printing press, the combination of a pair of perfecting mechanisms, in cluding printing and impression cylinders; central gears between the mechanisms of said pair; shafts for the type or plate cylinders extending the length of said pair of perfecting mechanisms; supports and boxes for the said printing cylinder shafts at each side of the said central gears and in proximity thereto; swinging supports with su porting pivots for the outer ends of the said printing cylinder shafts to permit the insertion or removal of tubular plates; and tubular plates, adapted to fit on the said printi lng1 cylinders, coacting for'the purpose speci- 6. In arotary printing press, the combination of a pair of perfecting mechanisms, includin printing and impression cylinders; centra driving ears I between the mechanisms of said palr; shafts for the printing cylinders extending the length of said pair of perfecting mechanisms; supporting boxes for the said printing cylinder shafts at each side of the said central gears andin proximity thereto; tubular plates adapted to fit on the said printing cylinders and removable over the ends thereof, coacting for the purpose specified.

7. In a rotary printing press, the combination of a pair of perfecting mechanisms including printing and impression cylinders; central driving gears between the mechanisms of said pair; shafts for the printing cylinders extending the length of said pair of perfecting mechanisms; and supporting boxes for the said printing cylinder shafts at each side of the said central gears and in proximity thereto, whereby tubular plates can be put over the ends of said cylinders,

coacting for the purpose specified.

8. In a rotary printing press, the combination with suitable shafts, of central driving gears therefor, with supports and boxings at each side in proximity thereto; cylinders arranged on the said shafts toward each end; printing plates on said cylinders, said plates being removable over the ends of said cylinders, and removable rings for securing said plates thereon, coacting for the purpose specified.

9. In a rotary printing press, the combination with suitable shafts, of central driving gears thereon, with supports and boxings at each side in proximity thereto; and plate cylinders arranged on the said shafts toward each end and removable over the ends there of, coacting for the purpose specified...

10. In a rotary printing press, a printing couple comprising alplate cylinder and an impression cylinder, the plate cylinder having end and intermediate journal bearings, the end bearings being removable to permit tubular plates to be slipped endwise on or off the cylinder.

11. In a rotary printing press, a printlng couple comprising a plate cylinder and an impression cylinder, the plate cylinder having end journals and an intermediate ournal, the end bearings for the end of the plate cylinder being removable to permit tubular plates to be slipped endwise on or off the ends of the cylinder at either side of the intermediate bearing.

12. In a rotary printing press, a printing couple comprising a plate cylinder andnn impression cylinder, each cylinder having end and intermediate bearings, the end bearing of the plate cylinder being; removable to permit. tubular plates to be slipped endwise on or off either end of the plate cylinder at either side of the central journal when the bearings are removed.

12-]. In a rotary printing press, a printing couple comprising a plate and an impression cylinder. the plate cylinder having end and intermediate journal bearings, the end bearings being removable to permit plates to he slipped on or off the end of the cylinder; and 'tube plates adapted to be slipped endwiseon or off the cylinder when the end journals are removed.

14. In a rotary printing press, the combination of a plate cylinder having end and intermediate journal bearings, the end bear- 139 ings for the cylinder being rem'ovable; tube my handand seal in the presence of two plates adapted to be slipped endwise on or witnesses. 1 01f the cylinder at eitherside of the intermediate bearing thereoflwhen the proper LYMAN WHEAT 5 end bearing is remgved, and means for lock- Witnesses: in these tube plates on the cylinder. EDWIN G; LEWIS,

m witness whereof, I have'hereuntoset ERWIN A. SALISBURY. 

